Sneezing in Austin and wondering what is in the air this time of year? Here is the quick calendar, because in Austin something is almost always pollinating. Cedar rules the winter, roughly December through February, and causes the infamous cedar fever. Oak takes over in spring, from late February through May, and coats every car in yellow-green dust. Grass peaks in late spring and summer, ragweed brings hay fever in the fall, and mold flares up whenever it rains. If you are allergic to both cedar and oak, which is common, the misery can run six straight months from December through May. The good news is the treatment is the same year-round, so once you know the calendar you can stay ahead of it.
That is the overview. Below is the full month-by-month calendar, what each season’s allergen does, why Austin is one of the worst allergy cities in the country, and how to treat it whatever the month.
This guide is general information from a longtime Austin resident, gathered from local allergy and medical sources cited throughout. It is not medical advice. For diagnosis or treatment, see a healthcare professional. Last updated July 2026.
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The Year-Round Austin Allergy Calendar
Austin is regularly ranked among the worst allergy cities in the United States, and locals only half-joke about the Allergy Capital of the World. The reason is that its pollen seasons are long and overlap, so there is rarely a clean break. Here is the shape of the year.
| Season | Main allergen | Peak |
|---|---|---|
| Winter (Dec to Feb) | Mountain cedar (Ashe juniper) | January into early February |
| Spring (late Feb to May) | Oak, plus elm, ash, and pecan | Oak peaks late March to early April |
| Late spring to summer (May to July) | Grass | Late May to early July |
| Fall (Aug to Nov) | Ragweed | Mid-August to mid-November |
| Year-round | Mold and grass | Mold spikes after rain |
Winter, Cedar
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The winter allergen is mountain cedar, and it is the most severe of the year, producing the reaction Texans call cedar fever. It runs roughly December through February and peaks in January. Because it strikes in winter, when everyone assumes any congestion is a cold, it blindsides visitors and new arrivals more than any other. It has its own dedicated guide, our complete cedar fever survival guide, which covers the season, the pollen counts, and the treatment in depth.
Spring, Oak (the Yellow Dust)
Just as cedar fades, oak takes over. Live oak pollen surges in late February and early March, right on the heels of cedar season, and oak peaks from late March into early April. This is the source of the yellow-green dust that coats cars, patios, and windowsills across Central Texas every spring. Elm, ash, and pecan add to the load, with pecan peaking around late April into May.
Oak symptoms look like classic hay fever, with an itchy nose, eyes, and throat, watery eyes, a runny nose, post-nasal drip, a nagging cough, and fatigue. Very sensitive people can get swollen eyelids, an eczema flare, or wheezing. The cruel part is the handoff. If you react to both cedar and oak, your allergy season can run continuously from December all the way through May, roughly six months of symptoms with no real gap.
Summer, Grass
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As the trees wind down, grass pollen picks up, running strongest from late May into early July and lingering through the warm months. Grass allergy brings the familiar sneezing, itchy eyes, and congestion, and it overlaps with the tail of tree season, so spring can feel like one long blur. Summer heat and time outdoors make it easy to blame the sun when grass pollen is part of the story.
Fall, Ragweed
The fall allergen is ragweed, the classic cause of hay fever, and it runs from about mid-August through mid-November. A single ragweed plant releases enormous amounts of pollen, and it travels far on the wind, so you do not have to be near the plant to feel it. For many Austinites, ragweed is the last hurdle before the brief autumn lull, which lasts only until cedar starts up again in December.
Year-Round, Mold
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Mold is the constant background player. Mold spores are present all year and spike after rain and during humid stretches, which Austin gets in spring and after summer storms. Mold allergy can feel like the pollen allergies, with congestion, sneezing, and irritated eyes, and it can quietly make a bad pollen day worse. Because it does not follow a neat season, mold is often the culprit when you feel allergic at a time of year that does not match the tree or grass calendar.
How to Treat It, Whatever the Month
The good news is that the treatment barely changes from season to season. The same daily non-drowsy antihistamine and steroid nasal spray that tame cedar fever work for oak, grass, and ragweed, and they work best when you start a week or two before your season begins. Saline rinses and antihistamine eye drops help, and for year-round sufferers an allergist can offer immunotherapy. Checking the daily pollen count tells you which allergen is high and whether to pre-medicate. Our cedar fever guide lays out the full treatment ladder and where to check Austin’s live pollen counts, and all of it applies to the rest of the year too.
Indoors, the same habits help across every season. Keep windows closed on high days, run a good air filter, and rinse pollen off your hair and clothes after being outside. In spring, wiping the yellow oak dust off outdoor furniture before you sit down saves a lot of misery.
Frequently Asked Questions
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When is allergy season in Austin?
Nearly all year. Cedar runs December through February, oak and other trees from late February through May, grass from late May into summer, and ragweed from mid-August to mid-November, with mold year-round. People allergic to both cedar and oak can have symptoms continuously from December through May.
What is the yellow pollen on cars in Austin?
That is oak pollen, which coats cars and outdoor surfaces in a yellow-green dust each spring. Oak surges in late February and peaks from late March into early April, taking over right as cedar season ends.
Why is Austin so bad for allergies?
Austin’s pollen seasons are long and overlap, so there is rarely a clean break. Mountain cedar, oak and other trees, grass, and ragweed each run for months, with mold year-round, which is why the city is regularly ranked among the worst allergy cities in the country.
Is the treatment the same for oak and cedar allergies?
Largely yes. A daily non-drowsy antihistamine and a steroid nasal spray, started a week or two before your season, work for cedar, oak, grass, and ragweed alike. Saline rinses and eye drops help, and an allergist can offer immunotherapy for year-round sufferers.
Sources
- Austin Pollen, daily counts for cedar, oak, ragweed, and mold
- KXAN Austin allergy tracker
- 411 Pediatrics, oak allergy season in Austin
